National Codex Specialist

Organizational Context

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) Subregional Office for the Pacific (SAP) supports member countries in meeting their national priorities in agriculture, fisheries, forestry, agrifood systems, nutrition, and rural development. FAO SAP works with Pacific Island nations, including the Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, and others, to address subregional priorities. The office develops and maintains relations with regional institutions and operates as a subsidiary of FAO's Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific. This role is funded under a Technical Cooperation Programme to strengthen national Codex structures and advance food safety and trade objectives.

Job Purpose

The National Codex Specialist will support FAO-led activities focused on strengthening national Codex capacities in the Pacific region, specifically in Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Solomon Islands, and Vanuatu. The role involves assisting an FAO international consultant with project activities, providing organizational support for workshops and meetings with stakeholders, and preparing and submitting project reports. The specialist will support the National Codex Committee (NCC) and relevant government ministries by collecting data, developing the national Codex Procedural Manual, and promoting Codex information materials. This position requires close consultation with the International Consultant for Food Safety and Nutrition for data review and assessment, and support for stakeholder workshops.

Responsibilities

The incumbent will assist the FAO international consultant in completing key project activities. This includes supporting advocacy efforts and workshops to raise awareness of Codex work among national policy and decision-makers. The role involves assisting in the development of Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) materials on Codex work for stakeholders across health, agriculture, marine, and trade sectors to enhance political and economic support. The specialist will also support Codex awareness activities and IEC material dissemination during national and international events like World Food Safety Day. Furthermore, the position requires supporting the coordination of training workshops as needed and contributing to the development of the National Codex Procedural Manual and a National Codex website.

Work Experience

Requires five years of experience in food safety and food standard regulation practices. This experience should encompass developing and preparing training and guideline materials, writing reports, and conducting training workshops. Experience in the Pacific Islands/Small Island Developing States (SIDS) contexts is considered a strong asset. Familiarity with donor-funded projects and reporting requirements is desirable.

Skills

Demonstrated knowledge of food safety, national food control systems, and Codex is essential. The candidate must possess qualifications supporting a sound understanding of these areas. Proven ability to draft reports and summarize workshop materials for submission is required. Excellent command of Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, and Excel is necessary. Strong facilitation, communication, and organizational skills are needed, along with the ability to work under pressure, adapt to complex contexts, and collaborate within multidisciplinary and multicultural teams. Problem-solving abilities and the capacity to plan at both strategic and operational levels are important. Knowledge of key food security, agricultural, and livelihoods indicators is beneficial.

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